Compare towns
Castleton vs Hyde Park vs Randolph vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Randolph has the most people working from home (12.9%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Hyde Park | Randolph | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,000 |
4,843Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$84,375±$9kHighest 4% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Hyde Park and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Randolph and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,007±$340 18% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,883 23% below VT |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #59 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lamoille Union High School | Randolph Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.